By Coach Martin | Football Basics
In football, there are many different penalties referees can call on any given play.
Once each play is over — or when a referee blows a whistle to stop a play — the referee will gather with the other officials to get the penalty call.
Then, the referee will march toward the scoring booth and call out the penalty, and what happens as a result.
Click Here to Read This Post
By Coach Martin | Football Rules & Penalties
Football players wear a helmet with a face mask to protect their head, neck and face while playing this high-contact sport.
Players should treat helmets as protective equipment and shouldn’t use it to make a hit on another player or used in any other way.
Sometimes, though, players end up hitting, pushing or grabbing another player’s helmet and/or face mask.
When this happens, it can result in a penalty called by the referee.
Click Here to Read This Post
By Coach Martin | Football Rules & Penalties
An illegal touching penalty only applies to the first player who touches the ball on a forward pass.
For example, if the quarterback throws a pass to a wide receiver and that wide receiver touches the ball first, only he will be subject to a potential illegal touching penalty.
If the wide receiver tips the ball and it travels in the air to someone else, that second person isn’t subject to the penalty.
Click Here to Read This Post
By Coach Martin | Football Basics
Offensive and defensive players in football are constantly trying to get an edge over their counterparts during games.
They learn different techniques for blocking and/or evading those blocks in an effort to accomplish their main task on a play.
Sometimes, players may think that an easy way to stop their opponent is to stick out their foot and trip another player.
Doing so, however, will result in a penalty in football.
Click Here to Read This Post
By Coach Martin | Football Basics
In the last few years, football leagues have been trying to crack down on plays that have a high chance of causing serious injuries.
This is especially true for those that could result in a serious head injury.
As a result, the NFL, college football, and even other levels have instituted a new rule called Targeting.
This is a great new rule that really seeks to eliminate hard hits to an opponent’s head, which is a serious cause for concern.
Click Here to Read This Post
By Coach Martin | Football Basics
Defensive players try to pressure the quarterback on passing plays to cause an errant pass, force a fumble, or get a sack.
They run at full speed in pursuit of quarterbacks, which often ends up in a high-impact collision.
Many of these collisions are completely legal, as contact is all part of the game of football.
However, there are instances in which defensive players break the rules of the game and commit what’s called a Roughing the Passer penalty.
Click Here to Read This Post